By Chung Ah-young
chungay@ktimes.com
The government said Wednesday it will ease its visa policy for Chinese tourists to encourage their visits and boost their consumption here.
Under the plan, the government will extend visa fee exemptions for Chinese visitors until the end of next year. The visa fee waiver was adopted in July as part of the government's efforts to boost the tourism industry seriously hit by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak.
It was the first time that Korea has waived visa fees for a certain country for the sole purpose of spurring tourism.
Chinese visitors previously paid visa fees worth 97 yuan (17,000 won) per person traveling in groups.
"By improving the visa rules and the tax refund system at duty free shops for Chinese visitors, we are seeking to attract more Chinese visitors particularly during the Lunar New Year holidays," a government official said. The holidays will be on Feb. 7-13 next year.
Also, Chinese visitors with multiple-entry visas will be allowed to stay for up to 90 days, up from the current 30 days, and their validity will be extended from the current five years to 10 years.
Additionally, starting next year, the government will lower the eligible age for multiple-entry visas for Chinese visitors from the current 60 to 55.
It will adopt a new tourist visa program with more relaxed requirements for Chinese visitors who travel here to consume hallyu-influenced products such as beauty treatments and leisure and cultural experiences.
For those wanting to take advantage of the new program, the government will ease visa requirements such as financial status, age, educational background and profession.
Travelers with this visa can get tax refunds under a simpler process starting in January.
Chinese visitors are the largest tourist group to Korea and their number has increased rapidly, from 2.83 million in 2012 to 4.32 million in 2013 and 6.12 million last year.
However, after the MERS outbreak here, many Chinese visitors have been opting for Japan over Korea due to the fall of the Japanese yen and its relaxed visa policy. Japan has already eased requirements for multi-entry visas to lure more Chinese visitors.
According to Ctrip, an online travel operator, Chinese women come to Korea to buy cosmetics and clothing. Mostly in their 20s and 30s, they are mainly attracted by Korean dramas.
chungay@ktimes.com
The government said Wednesday it will ease its visa policy for Chinese tourists to encourage their visits and boost their consumption here.
Under the plan, the government will extend visa fee exemptions for Chinese visitors until the end of next year. The visa fee waiver was adopted in July as part of the government's efforts to boost the tourism industry seriously hit by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak.
It was the first time that Korea has waived visa fees for a certain country for the sole purpose of spurring tourism.
Chinese visitors previously paid visa fees worth 97 yuan (17,000 won) per person traveling in groups.
"By improving the visa rules and the tax refund system at duty free shops for Chinese visitors, we are seeking to attract more Chinese visitors particularly during the Lunar New Year holidays," a government official said. The holidays will be on Feb. 7-13 next year.
Also, Chinese visitors with multiple-entry visas will be allowed to stay for up to 90 days, up from the current 30 days, and their validity will be extended from the current five years to 10 years.
Additionally, starting next year, the government will lower the eligible age for multiple-entry visas for Chinese visitors from the current 60 to 55.
It will adopt a new tourist visa program with more relaxed requirements for Chinese visitors who travel here to consume hallyu-influenced products such as beauty treatments and leisure and cultural experiences.
For those wanting to take advantage of the new program, the government will ease visa requirements such as financial status, age, educational background and profession.
Travelers with this visa can get tax refunds under a simpler process starting in January.
Chinese visitors are the largest tourist group to Korea and their number has increased rapidly, from 2.83 million in 2012 to 4.32 million in 2013 and 6.12 million last year.
However, after the MERS outbreak here, many Chinese visitors have been opting for Japan over Korea due to the fall of the Japanese yen and its relaxed visa policy. Japan has already eased requirements for multi-entry visas to lure more Chinese visitors.
According to Ctrip, an online travel operator, Chinese women come to Korea to buy cosmetics and clothing. Mostly in their 20s and 30s, they are mainly attracted by Korean dramas.
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